Friday, September 24, 2010

Forks for Felines


I admit I love critters of all sorts. Until they start biting me or messing up my food. And I have always adored the animals in my care, which happen to be kitties at the moment. However, my two cats, Kiko and Cosby, seemed to be overjoyed at the expanded garden. They concluded that it is actually a kitty outhouse, though I adamantly beg to differ. Hence the fork in the road. Or, I should say, in the garden.

I had some plastic forks to reuse, and it looks like they will make my point that my garden is not to be used as a litter box. I don't know if this is 100 percent effective yet. I don't think the kalij pheasants will mind them at all, unfortunately, but who knows, maybe they'll find the forks a bother and go into the neighbor's yard where it's easier to dine without them. I presume no one will interpret my crop of forks as an invitation to snack on my veggies, which are starting to look quite healthy and on their way to harvest. (By the way, that is lemon balm in the photo, not catnip. I'm not that mean. Usually.)

So, here's a Rethink and Reuse Tip: Instead of using throwaway plastic utensils, try carrying your own with you for when you dine out. Using your own special eating utensils can actually enhance your dining pleasure. Seriously. People will also either think you're a looney or will be envious. Or want to show off their own set. I have a wooden spoon and some chopsticks in a handy little case I keep in my purse or backpack. My coworker has a handsomely carved wooden spoon with a beaded handle from Africa that she's carried for 20 years. But on the odd occasion when I end up with a plastic fork in my possession, I'm saving it for the garden. No butts about it. So far.

2 comments:

Rohrerbot said...

Hi there,

I had similiar issues in my garden and now it's not an issue anymore. I am a cat lover....use coffee grounds and they will stay out...bark mulch also seems to keep them out because they don't like the texture against their paws. They were driving me nuts using the bathroom all over the property. Good luck:)

Janice said...

Thanks for those alternatives!

Unfortunately, I can't do either of them. We have extremely high rainfall here -- we get over 120 inches per year, and the soil is highly acidic. Coffee grounds are too acidic. The soil never dries out, so mulch is also out. But those sound like great suggestions for drier places.